From Okwe Obi, Abuja
This is certainly not the best of times for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps across the country, due to the atrocities of Boko Haram insurgents, community rivalry and natural disasters like flooding and fire outbreaks.
The harsh economic conditions in the country are taking a toll on the psychological, emotional and social well-being of IDPs. And the uneven distribution of relief materials by the Federal Government’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has worsened their predicaments.
According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Nigeria has 3.2 million displaced persons, some of whom are camped in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, respectively.
A report released by PRNigeria, an advocacy group, painted a gloomy picture of how state governments stockpile relief materials meant for IDPs.
Perishables like cartons of noodles, bags of rice, beans and onions rot away because they are stored in unsafe locations. Even mattresses, duvets, wrappers and mosquito nets are dumped and sometimes sold.
Findings also revealed that some regions access relief materials more than others. The report was titled “Special reports on humanitarian situations and plights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).”
PRNigeria official, Ya’u Mukhtar Madobi, said the report also targeted Chonoko village, Danku/Wasagu Local Government Area, Kebbi State, in April 2022 and Kagara community, Rafi Local Government Area, Niger State, in July, where bandits had wrecked havoc.
Madobi said: “It is unfortunate to learn that NEMA has been donating relief materials to these vulnerable communities but the items were being stockpiled in warehouses by the state government without distributing them to the IDPs.”
Also, because of their inability to eke out a living, the distraught people live at the mercy of philanthropists, religious bodies and civil society organizations.”
Meanwhile, NEMA’s head of media, Manzo Ezekiel, defended the organisation, claiming that the relief materials were distributed according to the severity of the situation.
Ezekiel added that because of the height of insecurity, “we cannot access those places on our own without the support of security agencies and state governments and even community leaders.”
The spokesman, however, admitted NEMA’s imperfection in terms of monitoring and evaluating the delivery of relief support: “We monitor distribution of relief materials. But it may not be a perfect distribution. NEMA is improving on monitoring and evaluation.
“NEMA has been providing relief support to IDPs across the country, especially in the North East since the escalation of insurgency; we have been supporting IDPs there and in other places.
“In Borno and Adamawa, for instance, we provide monthly feeding for over 200 IDPs in the camps and other liberated communities.
“The agency has been giving supplies to other part of the country, especially those affected by insecurity and other disaster.
“In Kebbi and Niger states, for instance, because that is the focus of this meeting, we have been providing support there. As a matter of fact, the director-general had a cause to go to the field himself. He was in Kontagora.
“If you look at the Kagara and Chonogo that we are discussing here, there are in the same general area. I must say that these are not the only places that are affected by insurgency. Recently, we were in Plateau State.
“We went to deliver materials to people affected by unknown gunmen attacks in Kanam local government area. We have also had situation in Katsina State where we have also distributed relief materials.
“But I am sure of the reasons this forum is called is to discuss why IDPs are still complaining about distribution of relief materials. Sometimes, when we take relief materials to special locations, we deliver these materials in collaboration with the community leaders and state governments.
“As much as we try our best to carry out our assignment, I believe, as media executives, you can as well confirm from leaders and state governments of these locations about our distribution. We give support based on available resources.
“I must explain why, perhaps, I have not said here that we are giving relief materials to the location that is under focus. In the North East for instance, there is a general displacement of local government areas. Some displacement happen in remote locations.”
However, security and economic experts charged the government to permanently fix the lingering security glitches hindering the progress of the country.
They also proposed the distribution of fertilisers and other farming requisites to enable them fend for themselves.
Madobi said: “Government and security forces should sustain their efforts towards restoring peace and security to the affected communities
“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons should look into the situation of these IDPs by providing them with relief materials.
“These items should include foodstuff, detergents, clothes, wrappers and mattresses, among others.
“Agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, chemicals and seeds etc. should also be distributed in order to improve agricultural activities.
“Provision of medical supplies should be considered in order to ensure the delivery of a robust and sound healthcare system. This will go a long way in averting disease’s outbreak and other emergencies.
“Efforts should be outlined and implemented toward rescuing the dwindling educational sector, thereby absorbing back the school drop outs from the streets which is necessary for averting future security breaches
“International donor agencies, including the International Red Cross Society (IRCS) and others should intervene in the awful situation of the IDPs, especially in providing them with adequate shelter so as to reduce too much population in their overcrowded settlements.
“There should be transparency and open disclosure in distribution of relief materials to the vulnerable persons in the affected communities.”